ORS 543.082: Invoice for fees; overdue fee; interest on delinquent fees.

(1) At least 45 days before the fees required under ORS 543.078 or 543.080 become due, the Water Resources Department shall issue invoices to the holder for each fee. (2) If any holder fails to pay the fees required under ORS 543.078 or 543.080 within 15 days after the date specified in the invoice, the department shall notify the holder of the amount and nature of the overdue fee. Any such notice shall be sent to the holder by certified mail and shall include notification that the holder has 30 days from the date of the certified delivery of the notice to pay the overdue fee or the holder shall be subject to the late payment penalty provisions of subsection (3) of this section. (3) Any fee that is not paid within 30 days of the date a holder receives certified delivery of the notice required under subsection (2) of this section shall be considered delinquent and shall be increased by 25 percent. In addition, the state shall have a preference lien for any such fee, together with interest at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of delinquency, upon the property of the holder used, or necessary for use, in the development of the water right, together with any improvements erected on the property for such development. Upon notice from the Water Resources Commission, the Attorney General shall foreclose the lien and collect the amount due, as provided in this section, in the same manner as other liens on real property are foreclosed. (4) The remedy set forth in subsection (3) of this section is in addition to any other remedy provided by law for the collection of moneys or for noncompliance with a condition of a water right order, uncertificated claim or certification under ORS 468B.040 or 468B.045. [1999 c.873 §7]